This verse is under the chapter நட்பிற் பிழைபொறுத்தல் – Bearing with faults in friendship. The poet says “One whom we have chosen as friend, even if they causes us much grief, it is worth to put up with them. If one person is patient, he saves the friendship between the two.”

The third line is interesting. It is a description of the ruler’s country. It also means ‘though the flowers are at a height, bees go to them and buzz around. Similarly though a friend is at fault, we have to bear with them for the sake of friendship’.

Being born in a particular clan doesn’t make one good or bad. There is no good clan or bad clan. These are just words, they have no real meaning. Inherited clan pride and wealth alone are not enough to define oneself. Their self-discipline, learning and spiritedness define whether one is superior or inferior.

One cannot escape the consequences of his action. Wherever he hides, his bad karma will catch up with him. Like a calf that is let loose among a herd of cows. Though there are many cows, the calf will zero in on its mother easily. Like that bad karma will find and attach itself to the man who is responsible for it.

பல் ஆவுள் – among many cows
உய்த்துவிடினும் – even if let loose
குழக் கன்று – young calf
வல்லது – capable
நாடிக் கோடலை – find and join
தொல்லைப் பழவினை – bad karma
அன்ன தகைத்தே – is like that
தற் செய்த கிழவன் – one who created it / responsible for it
நாடிக் கொளற்கு – to find and attach

Does it matter if it is dragged with a rope? Or cleaned up and buried?Does it matter if it is left in public? And people badmouth it?Once the actor, who resides in this bag off fleshPlaying his role, departs?

The poet equates life / soul to an actor who resides in our body (bag of flesh). Once his role is over he departs. After that this body worthless. It doesntatter if it is dragged around or cleaned up and buried. It doesn’t matter if it is left lying around and people bad mouth it. The body isn’t affected anyway as it is just an inanimate object.

This Naaladiyaar verse is under the chapter of ‘Not coveting other man’s wife’ (பிறர் மனை நயவாமை). Burning arrows, hot fire, Sun’s fiery rays all of them burn severely, but the burn is only external. Lust, however stays within the mind and burns it and causes untold agony. Hence one has to fear lust more than the arrows or fire or the Sun.

Hot arrows is an oft repeated phrase (வெஞ்சரம்) in Tamil poems. I assume it is poetic licence. Or may be they really used flame throwers those days. I’m not sure.

It can’t be stolen from its place; If bestowed, it won’t diminish;Because of its lofty stature, even an angry ruler can’t seize it;Legacy worth leaving for one’s progeny is knowledge alone,Not anything else.

This Naaladiyaar verse glorifies education and knowledge. It is not a physical object, so cannot be stolen from its place. If a suitable student appears and knowledge is bestowed on him, it won’t diminish. It will only shine more. Because of lofty stature of knowledge, learned men can’t be hurt even by the ruler’s anger. Only inheritance worth leaving as legacy for one’s kids is knowledge. Nothing else matters.

Might be hard to accept in today’s materialistic world, but that’s what the ancients thought. And I think it makes sense.

Though a flower overflows with honey and is fragrant, A fly doesn’t go for it but desires lowly stuff; like that, For those whose heart is full of base thoughts, What’s the use of honeyed words of advice uttered by the wise?

Good friends are like flowers that bloom on trees. Ones those flowers open up, they remain open till they whither and fall. Like wise good friendship remains steadfast, always open. Those who are friends initially and then shut down are like flowers that bloom in a pond – lilies or lotus. They bloom and close back. No body likes or befriends such people.

My friend with shining bangles! You ask
“The forest is hard to pass through;
Will it be possible for youto follow him and cross it tomorrow?”One who acquires a majestic horse immediately learns how to ride it.

She has planned to elope tomorrow with him. Her friend asks her, “the way is hard to pass through. You aren’t used to the hardships. Will you be able to walk across the forest, following him?” She is drunk on love. She replies “You don’t worry about me. Once I fell in love with him, I was prepared for this. Like one who acquires a majestic horse immediately learning the right way to ride it”

This Naaladiyaar poem is under the chapter தாளாண்மை (Spiritedness / perseverance). What is a tender sapling by the way side will be used to tie a mighty elephant in the future, once its core strengthens and it becomes a strong tree. Such is life too. If one puts in effort to strengthen oneself, without being lazy, he will prosper in life.